When I framed my cabin in over a year ago, I used engineered I-beams and spaced them at 19.2 inches apart. Georgia Pacific actually came up with those specs. Anyway....I noticed that my floor has become squeaky in spots. It feels solid, so I don't think the floor joists are undersized, but the noise just bothers me!! d*
What can I do to fix that? I used construction adhesive and ringshanked nails. I have not tried putting more nails in yet. I just nailed in the spots the 3/4" Advantech flooring told me too (there are black dots on their for you put your nails in).
Any suggestions before I try more nails?
It is over an uninsulated crawlspace...not sure if that would make any difference?
Thanks!!
Use screws?
You know other than T&G 2x6 car decking over post and beams , I've had MORE floor squeaks with "I " joist than I ever had with lumber joist.
What I've found is all the manf. over span thier joist, ya they save you a beam or two maybe a joist or two but in the long run it's not worth it.
So back to your floor , is it in one place this squeak? If so like Mtn. D said screw er down. One place that floors squeak is really at walls that are parallel to the joist , especially on 19.2 centers , the squeak REAL is the nails holding the wall in place , the ones thru the bottom plate , the plywood flex's as you walk by and the nails squeak as the plywood slide up and down the nail shank.
Another weak link is top [yuk] flange hangers , those >:( POS [yuk] ALWAYS squeak , unless you glue the joist into the hanger before you set the joist in the hanger.
So whats your issue ???? I hope I covered all of the factors.
Thanks for the responses guys..
...my issue seems to be squeaks right in the middle of the room. I guess I will try some srews and see if that helps. I guess I was wondering if I could do anything from below, down in the crawlspace?
The last issue I had was a rattle by a pocket door which turned out to be something with the floor we added a post under a TJI at that point , no more rattle .
I have added beams under TJI to stop bouncing floors .
Go under the house and try adding so temporary 2x4 props , if they stop the squeak add a beam in that area.
I saw a trick on one of the home improvement shows that dealt with floor squeaks. The floor was t&g over subfloor, apparently little/no glue, and regular joists (not sure that would have been any effect). They installed screws but in a particular way:
1) The screws were large-long decking screws. They were installed, but not "bottomed". In fact, there was screw threads left showing above the floor line. This left the unthreaded screw shank and head sticking up above the floor.
2) The last operation was to go around clipping off the unused portion of the screws flush with the floor using a hand grinder with a cut-off disc.
This left the screw body holding the floor, sub-flooring, and joists all locked together. Screws were installed over a large enough area, not only into joists, to stop all squeaks.
JRR there just something WRONG about breaking off a screw intentionally! d*
I may work for John-m , but it depends what "really" causing the squeak.
Well, remember ... this was not floor "installation". It was an "after the fact" effort to stop the squeaks.
.... and it was TV!
We had a squeak in a second floor room at one of the condos. The room was carpeted. A flooring specialist we talked to had a solution that involved breaking off screws. But they were special screws designed for the job, designed to break off. He had a special tool, a jig that allowed the screws to go in just the right amount. The screw shaft had a groove cut in it. After screwing down, the jig was removed and the screw knocked sideways to snap it off at the grovve, which was at the subfloor surface. Somehow or another it was possible to do this without the screw grabbing the carpet fibers and causing trouble. I wasn't there to see it. Anyhow the squeak was gone.
I guess I will have to maybe give this a try?
http://www.squeaknomore.com/
..although if it is just a subfloor, I can probably use regular deck screws huh?
When working on a subfloor squeak (before there's anything on top) I don't see any problems using deck screws and just torquing them down to where the flathead is just at or slightly below the surface.
I simply thought this an opportune time/place to mention the special screws for ridding ones carpeted floor of squeaks. Thanks for the link John. Those really did the job. The other scews there look good for special apps too.
Ya just screw it down then check it IF you have time till the finish floor goes down. IF that doesn't do it then go do the post under neath the floor.
I WAS kidding ;D ( you know me always joking around ) d* , well some what , about intentional breaking off the screws. I've seen those but never have used them. I guess they work on the idea that the joist and floor are locked either apart or together but seeing they are both engaged by the threads they can't squeak. Good idea if carpet is already laid , sort of limited to that application eh!
Some squeakly floors are not that bad. Especiially if you have teenagers who sometimes forget the curfew time :D
Forget the curfew time hmm --- as I seem to recall, I couldn't even remember where I lived sometimes. [crz]
Quote from: Redoverfarm on January 07, 2008, 09:12:32 PM
Some squeakly floors are not that bad. Especiially if you have teenagers who sometimes forget the curfew time :D
A time and place for everything. :) And one thing good about concrete slab floors like the suburban house... it never squeaks! ;D